Hair Loss Due To Excessive Alcohol
While the UK is known for its drinking culture, most Brits are unaware that alcohol can have a massive effect on the body’s ecosystem over a prolonged period.
Hair loss due to excessive alcohol consumption is often a result of the body being prevented from gaining the necessary nutrients for normal bodily functions. However, excessive alcohol can also affect hair growth by dehydrating the body, causing sugar spikes and altering hormone levels.
In what ways can hair loss due to alcohol occur?
The current UK government health guidelines state that both men and women should strive to limit their alcohol intake to just 14 units a week. While there is a growing trend among younger adults to drink less heavily than previous generations, the aging population appear to be drinking more than ever before thanks to the cheap spirits and beers available in supermarkets.
Strangely enough, most of the issues involving hair loss and alcohol can occur due to a lack of knowledge regarding human addiction. One of the first signs of excessive alcohol consumption is weight gain, which causes heavy drinkers to limit their calories without limiting their alcohol intake.
While this may help to prevent weight gain (in the short term), over time it causes the body to starve itself of the nutrients that are necessary for bodily functions such as the ability to grow hair. Of course, hair loss should be the least of your worries if you are consuming too much alcohol, as excessive drinking can cause a lack of thiamine which can cause permanent brain damage.
Other issues resulting from excessive alcohol intake
Alcohol also has an effect on the levels of potassium and magnesium in the body, and as these elements help to regulate the health of your heart, muscles and kidneys and indeed, hair growth. This is also true for a person’s zinc levels, which have been found to fall when excessive amounts of alcohol are taken in. In fact, excessive drinking can cause a drop in numerous important nutrients and vitamins including vitamin B, vitamin C and folic acid – all of which are important for healthy hair growth.
As many people are aware, alcohol can put the body under immense stress by preventing it from resting properly during the night, leading to stress induced hair loss – otherwise known as telogen effluvium.
What can I do to prevent hair loss due to excessive alcohol consumption?
The obvious answer to this issue is to lower your weekly alcohol intake, and increase your intake of nutritious foods. Of course, alcoholism and binge drinking are still a huge issue in the UK, and so many people find it incredibly hard to stop drinking as much – especially after a busy day at work. Luckily, there are many services available on the NHS as well as through charities to help break the cycle.
At the Hair Loss Studio, we always recommend you seek help from a medical professional if you suffer from alcohol addiction for the sake of your personal health before applying for help with the aesthetic of your hair. But if you find your hair loss is causing your problems with self-confidence and self-esteem, we will always be there to help.
If you are worried that you are suffering from hair loss due to excessive alcohol, we always advise you to contact your GP to help you with the underlying problem. However, at the Hair Growth Studio we will always be available to provide you with support as well as numerous effective hair systems to help you recover. So, please book a consultation with the Hair Growth Studio if you’d like personally-tailored advice from an expert.